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Reflection 1

I recently started researching animals in southern Illinois, and honestly, I find it fascinating. What surprised me right away is that some of these animals are ones we actually see out in public almost every single day. At first, I expected to find more rare or unusual species, but instead I realized that many of the animals I pass by on a regular basis are part of this bigger picture of southern Illinois wildlife. That made me think more deeply about how often we overlook the everyday creatures around us. They’re always there, moving, living, surviving, and we hardly stop to notice.

My plan moving forward is to keep digging deeper into the different species that make their home in southern Illinois.I also want to visit parks and observe how these animals act in their natural environments. I want to pay attention to how they treat one another, how they react when people are nearby, and how comfortable they seem in the spaces they live in.

As I’ve been thinking about this, a few questions keep coming to mind. One of the biggest questions I have is: what environment is truly best for all these species? Southern Illinois has a mix of forests, fields, rivers, and wetlands, and I’m curious about which animals thrive in which settings. Another question is whether different species get along with each other or if they mostly keep their distance. Do they compete for food or territory, or do they find ways to share the same spaces peacefully?

Speaking of food, that’s something I definitely want to look into as well. What exactly do these animals eat, and how do they find their food? Do their diets change with the seasons? Do they have favorite things they like to eat, the way humans do? I’m also wondering about how they interact with humans. Some animals seem bold and curious, while others are naturally shy and avoid people. Which ones in southern Illinois are more open to contact, and which ones stay hidden? Those are the kinds of things I want to notice when I actually get out there and see them for myself.

As of right now, I haven’t been out to the JJK site yet to start exploring, so everything is still in the early stages. So far, I haven’t come across any big surprises in my research, but I feel like the real discoveries will come once I’m able to visit in person. For now, I’m just laying the foundation and building curiosity. I know that once I get into the field, I’ll see things I never even thought about, and that’s what makes this whole process exciting.

Reflection 2

Before going onsite, all I needed was clarification so I can do my part with no confusing. Before going I just imagined us walking in a park. My plan, as discussed with the JJK is I will be working and researching about the species that is in that area. Not just that, I will also be designing the charts and flyer for the data me and my partner Aiden will gather. Honestly the only obstacle I would say is there is if im overloaded with work or may not understand what to do. My partners and I are excited especially since we had a good site visit and it went well and everyone knows what they are doing. Sometimes the barriers to building trust is not knowing the person, how the person act, and bad experiences from the past. I will keep in contact with my team and make sure we are on the same page and help each other out as needed. We went on the site and outside was nice but it is still in construction. We talked about the plans and how we could help out by researching certain things for the JJK.